System, method, and apparatus for electric power grid and network management of grid elements

• US 9,806,563 B2
• Filed: 11/22/2016
• Issued: 10/31/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Causam Enterprises, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Causam Energy, Inc.
• Inventors: Forbes, Jr., Joseph W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Everett, Christopher E
• Application Number:
  US15/358,876
• Publication Number:
  US 20170077751A1
• Time in Patent Office: 343 Days
• Field of Search: 700286
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 11/01 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 13/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 13/0255 the criterion being a time-optimal performance criterion
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/042 using digital processors G05B19/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/40458 Grid adaptive optimization
• CPC Class Codes: G05F 1/66 Regulating electric power
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00004 characterised by the power network being locally controlled
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00006 characterised by information or instructions transport means between the monitoring, controlling or managing units and monitored, controlled or operated power network element or electrical equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00016 using a wired telecommunication network or a data transmission bus
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00026 involving a local wireless network, e.g. Wi-Fi, ZigBee or Bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00028 involving the use of Internet protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00034 the elements or equipment being or involving an electric power substation
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2203/10 Power transmission or distribution systems management focussing at grid-level, e.g. load flow analysis, node profile computation, meshed network optimisation, active network management or spinning reserve management
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2203/20 Simulating, e g planning, reliability check, modelling or computer assisted design [CAD]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/12 The local stationary network supplying a household or a building
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/00 Circuit arrangements for ac mains or ac distribution networks
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/14 by switching loads on to, or off from, network, e.g. progressively balanced loading
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/3225 : Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/00 : Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/222 : Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/12 : characterised by data transport means between the monitoring, controlling or managing units and monitored, controlled or operated electrical equipment
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/20 : Information technology specific aspects, e.g. CAD, simulation, modelling, system security

Abstract

Systems, methods, and apparatus embodiments for electric power grid and network registration and management of active grid elements. Grid elements are transformed into active grid elements following initial registration of each grid element with the system, preferably through network-based communication between the grid elements and a coordinator, either in coordination with or outside of an IP-based communications network router. A multiplicity of active grid elements function in the grid for supply capacity, supply and/or load curtailment as supply or capacity. Also preferably, messaging is managed through a network by a Coordinator using IP messaging for communication with the grid elements, with the energy management system (EMS), and with the utilities, market participants, and/or grid operators.

Claims

1. A system for network registration and management of grid elements in an electric power grid, comprising:

at least one grid element in network-based communication with a server associated with the electric power grid;

wherein the at least one grid element automatically communicates an initial message to the server for registration with the electric power grid;

wherein the initial message includes a unique grid element identifier, a class of service information, function information, an attachment point of the electric power grid, communication format, and authentication information;

wherein the class of service information includes a priority of delivery;

wherein the at least one grid element is transformed into corresponding at least one active grid element via the registration with the electric power grid;

wherein the at least one active grid element is operable to actively function within the electric power grid based on the class of service information, the function information, and the attachment point information of the initial message;

wherein the server is operable to update at least one attribute of the at least one active grid element; and

wherein the at least one active grid element is operable to send and receive messages with the server via network-based communication after the registration.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the initial message further includes at least one of:

a geodetic reference, a grid element type, a grid element profile, a grid element attachment point reference, a grid element power supply value (PSV), a grid element power trade block (PTB) value, a grid element balancing authority association, a grid element owner identifier, a grid element compatibility identifier.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one active grid element actively functions to provide power supply and/or curtailment as power supply that provides for grid stability, operating reserves, and/or other reserves of the electric power grid.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the transformation of the at least one grid element is automatic and/or autonomous.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one coordinator in network-based communication with the at least one active grid element and the server.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the at least one coordinator is operable to register the at least one grid element.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the at least one coordinator is operable to match and prioritize the at least one active grid element.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the network-based communication is a standards-based communication or a proprietary communications protocol.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the network-based communication is IP-based messaging.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the server initiates the transformation of the at least one grid element into the corresponding at least one active grid element.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the transformation is registered in a database.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the database is registered with an Independent System Operator (ISO), balancing authority (BA), North American Electric Reliability Corp. (NERC), utility service area, and/or Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).

13. The system of claim 11, wherein registration of grid elements is stored in the database for predetermined periods of time for use of settlement associated with the at least one active grid element.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one attribute comprises a grid element power supply value (PSV) and/or a grid element power trade block (PTB) value.

15. A method for electric power grid network management, comprising:

providing at least one grid element configured for network-based communication with a server;

the at least one grid element automatically communicating an initial message to the server for registration within the electric power grid, wherein the initial message includes a unique grid element identifier, a class of service information, function information, an attachment point of the electric power grid, communication format, and authentication information;

wherein the class of service information includes a priority of delivery;

the at least one grid element automatically transforming into at least one active grid element for functioning actively within the electric power grid via the registration based on the class of service information, the function information, and the attachment point information of the initial message;

the server updating at least one attribute of the at least one active grid element; and

the at least one active grid element sending and receiving messages with the server via network-based communication.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising at least one coordinator routing the messages between the at least one grid element and the server.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the messages comprise power event messages.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the power event messages include at least one of:

status of device(s), supply source(s), and/or demand;

location of attachment;

line losses;

distribution and transmission capacity information; and

combinations thereof.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the power event messages further include information about Power Supply Value (PSV) or Power Trade Block (PTB) associated with the at least one active grid element.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the power event messages are based upon inputs initiated from a market participant, a utility, or an electric grid operator.